Moms Freaking Out Over 'Vulgar' Ice Cream Need to Chill

on September 21, 2011 at 3:50 PM

girl ice cream A memo to the moms who are freaking out about Ben & Jerry's naming their latest ice cream after the eternally funny Saturday Night Live skit Schweddy Balls: Lighten up, will ya? Come on, people. Not only is it ice cream, it's Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Do you really think your kid is contemplating the subtext of the name Half Baked when he's slurping down a cone or reminiscing about his favorite jam band while digging into a bowl of Phish Food?

No. Because, as a mom, I can tell you that double entendres and risqué references are lost on little kids. Whoosh! Right over their heads. Unless you decide to explain the context of a given term, they're not gonna get it (and even if you do explain, they still might not grasp what you're talking about). So to all the mothers who are steamed enough to melt a tub of Chunky Monkey, Schweddy Balls is NOT "vulgar."

It's ice cream!

This reminds me of the time my kids and I were out for Chinese food and they got curious about the astrology-themed place-mats. Of course both of them were dying to figure out which animals corresponded to their birth years (I was born in the Year of the Dragon, which they thought was pretty cool).

My daughter turned out to be a snake. My son, however, who was about 4 years old at the time, was born in the Year of the Rooster -- or, as the place-mat put it, the Year of the Cock.

Instantly, my older daughter burst out laughing. My son, on the other hand? Didn't have the slightest idea what was so funny.

"What's a cock?"

"Same thing as a rooster," I told him.

"Yeah, but ... " My daughter nearly spilled the beans, but I gave her one of those Don't You Dare looks and she clammed up.

Until later, when, out of my earshot, she schooled him on the varied uses of the word. Then my son thought it was beyond hilarious.

Anyway, my point is this: Kids aren't going to find Schweddy Balls more suggestive than sausage or tart or cherry pie or any other word that, to them, still has just one definition: Food.

Do you think the moms who are boycotting Schweddy Balls need to relax?

Image via Tommy Wong/Flickr

About the author Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance!

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Comments (134)

SauceAwesome

on Sep 21, 2011 at 4:03 PM

I agree. I honestly don't see what the big deal is

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Mama2MonkeyBoys

on Sep 21, 2011 at 4:30 PM

I don't think it's a big deal. It's supposed to be funny. But, I'm sure a group of holier-than-thou moms (probably the same group that got the JCPenney shirts pulled) will throw an ever-expanding tantrum until it's pulled.
Because that's how free speech works, obviously.

twinsurromommy

on Sep 21, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Like it or not, it IS vulgar. How could it not be? That's what Ben and Jerry's is famous for...off beat, questionable names for their ice cream. I don't normally have a problem with it, but I have to admit that I'd cringe if my kids read it at the grocery store and asked me about it.

And actually it's not the same group of moms who got the shirts pulled from JCPenny. I know because I'm a part of that group. But we did get another degrading shirt pulled from Forever 21, thank you very much.

tyrelsmom

on Sep 21, 2011 at 7:08 PM

Actually, I think that's a little over the top. But you're also right. Just like why I let my little kids watch Shrek. All the suggestive stuff goes RIGHT over their heads.

GlowWorm889

on Sep 21, 2011 at 7:53 PM

If we were to sheild kids from everything that might be suggestive, Disney films would SO be off the list. Ever gone back and watched Disney films as an adult? You catch all of the adult references you didn't as a kid. You're totally right.....kids are not going to get the vulgarity of the name. And even if they do, who cares? It's meant to be a joke, and there is going to come a day when your child is going to have a mind just as dirty as yours.

Nonmember comment from PortlandMom

on Sep 21, 2011 at 8:40 PM

I can see how some would get upset over it. I consider myself to be bit of a prude, but all I need to do if I'm worried about it corrupting my kids is not buy it. I don't buy B&J's anyway because it's too expensive. There are plenty of other great ice cream brands and flavors out there.

Nonmember comment from Ms. Lala

on Sep 21, 2011 at 10:53 PM

I think its great! I love the skit, and I can't wait to try the ice cream. The whole point to the skit originally was people who took thinks out of context. And yet here are all these mothers doing just that. Maybe they should get their minds out the gutter, they are the vulgar ones.

Facebook comment from Jessie S. Hegwood

on Sep 21, 2011 at 11:08 PM

Just tell them it is pronounced "Shweety" (like sweetie with a lisp) . There, problem solved. Its an ice cream name, get over it.

jagamama0710

on Sep 21, 2011 at 11:17 PM

clapping

PonyChaser

on Sep 22, 2011 at 12:27 AM

Why do we need to "chill"? Why can't we have our opinion, just like you have yours? I'm not calling you all kinds of names because you think it's hilarious, but those of us who think the name is inappropriate have been called "prude", "holier than thou", and all kinds of other stuff. We're not saying that you shouldn't buy it. Go ahead. Buy a case. We raise our kids differently than you do. So. WHAT? I thought we were supposed to be tolerant and accepting of everybody's views here?